AFL 2022: Western Bulldog Mitch Wallis opens up on death of mother-in-law in car accident days before birth of second child
It was meant to be one of his most-joyous weeks, but Mitch Wallis has opened up on the car accident, days before the birth of his second child, that claimed the life of his mother-in-law.
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Western Bulldogs veteran Mitch Wallis has laid bare the horrific details of the traumatic death of his mother-in-law Katie only days before wife Emily gave birth to son William.
And Wallis says despite a foot reconstruction that has kept him to only five games this year he is in constructive talks with the Bulldogs and will sign a new contract to extend his 12-year career.
Wallis reveals in an interview with Brad Johnson on Fox Footy’s Face-to-Face program on Tuesday night mother-in-law Katie donated three of her organs to allow others to live.
Katie passed away in a horrific car accident three days before Mitch’s wife Emily gave birth to second child William as a week that should have been filled with joy was replaced by tragedy.
“It was a tragedy where she was hit by a car and pronounced brain dead three or four days later,” Wallis said.
“In amongst that we were expecting our second child Will, which fortunately (Emily) was able to hold on for a couple of days after she was declared dead to have the baby.
“We talk about perspective a lot. The world gets turned upside down when something like that happens. And you get perspective about the things you hold most dear.
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“I was the last person in our family to see Katie alive. The reason she was out and about was because she was worried about us. And she was such a beautiful caring person. To have someone like that ripped away so suddenly in a moment Emily needed her every step of the way during pregnancy, you want to hold those close to you and not let go.
“So young Will comes along and you talk about having so much emotion and hatred of the circumstances and you turn this ball of internal combustion into love and astonishment.
“I have a baby boy. I have a son. They were the first words Emily spoke to me – “I made you a boy”. And then we thought of Katie and spoke about Katie. This is your grandson and he’s a bundle of laughter at the minute.”
Wallis said Katie was an organ donor and urged people to sign up through organisations like Donate Life, which has a partnership with the Western Bulldogs.
“For her to donate three of her organs, it is something she leaves behind for her but also a legacy for the family. To think she is going to help other people live a stronger and better life is something we can really hold onto forever,” he said.
Wallis has had surgery for a plantar plate rupture which will sideline him for 16 weeks but he hopes to be running in a month and believes he will secure another contract for 2023.
“I really want to play on next year. I have had numerous chats with Sam Power, our list manager, and Bevo (Luke Beveridge) about that contract,” he said.
“They would love to have me and we are finalising that at the minute so I look forward to attacking that with a curious mind and an endeavour to get better and play for the Dogs next year.”
Fox Footy’s Face-to-Face will be shown at 8.30pm on Tuesday night
Cunnington opens up on emotional AFL return
—Tim Michell
Ben Cunnington has revealed he had to learn to walk again and was so physically sick he would collapse getting out of bed after making an inspirational return from cancer on Saturday for North Melbourne.
The tough on-baller played his first match since being diagnosed with testicular cancer against Adelaide and said it had been an important milestone in his rehabilitation.
“I suppose you get a bit complacent, or you think you might be done with the game,” he said on Fox Footy.
“But until it gets taken away, you quickly realise how much you do love it and to get another opportunity at playing, I couldn’t be more appreciative and grateful.
“Even though we lost I still can’t stop smiling and just trying to appreciate it right now.”
Cunnington said he started chemotherapy about a week after his wife Belinda gave birth.
“She has been a rock, been there for every bit of it. I obviously couldn’t have got back without her,” Cunnington said.
“She’s cried about two or three times in our whole life and to see her in tears, it wasn’t the best prep. But it was good just to take it all in and appreciate where we have been.”
Cunnington said he “could barely get out of bed” or “go to the toilet without collapsing” during his treatment.
“First month was just walking, learning pretty much how to walk again. Getting the strength and the ks (kilometres) under the legs. Started from rock bottom,” he said.
“There (was) a few hiccups. Definitely questioned me, when I got back. Just because the time was ticking, I felt I really worked hard enough to get back this year.
“I didn’t want to carry it into the off-season. Because I feel if I can just tick it off and go into the off-season being normal I can still play some good footy next year. But there were definitely times I did feel I was in a bit of trouble.”
Coach Leigh Adams praised Cunnington’s passion and commitment to return.
“He had a tear in eye when he put his jumper back on today and I think for our young blokes to see what it means to him to play for this footy club … hopefully that has a lasting impression on this group,” Adams said.
“We don’t want to just give games out to players, we want players to earn games.
“For someone to have 12 months of his footy career taken away and to see how much it makes to get back out there … hopefully that’s a lasting memory for a few of our young guys.
“He was just so thankful for the opportunity to get back out there … you couldn’t take the smile off his face.
“We would have loved to have got a win for him and at stages in that second and third quarter we had a real opportunity but unfortunately we just kept losing soldiers, which didn’t help.”
Originally published as AFL 2022: Western Bulldog Mitch Wallis opens up on death of mother-in-law in car accident days before birth of second child
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